"The Lisu and Kachin converts would be easily able to support their own pastors, teachers and evangelists by well-advised cultivation of their own ample hillsides, and it is fitting that the mountains should bring forth supplies for the needs of those whose feet are beautiful upon them. But spiritually they are babes, and as dependent upon us as a child upon his mother. They are dependent on us out here for instruction, guidance, organisation; but they are dependent on the home churches in England and America in a deeper sense, for spiritual life and power. I really believe that if every particle of prayer put up by the home churches on behalf of the infant churches of the mission field were removed, the latter would be swamped by an incoming flood of the powers of darkness. This seems actually to have happened in church history-churches losing all their power and life, becoming a mere empty name, or else flickering out altogether. Just as a plant may die for lack of watering, so may a genuine work of God die and rot for lack of prayer."

They could financially take care of themselves, but rather need spiritual instruction. Though written decades ago, we often still focus on financially supporting local evangelists and pastors instead of coming along side them and helping them grow in the Lord. And as for the home church, instead of a focus on taking trips to experience the life of the Dong people, we should put into practice our incredibly powerful weapon of prayer, fighting for the Dong people before God's throne.